FLORIDA LEGISLATURE

Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office this week asked a federal appeals court to overturn a ruling that blocked key parts of a 2019 law that...

The measure does allow for the districts to be reestablished, leaving an avenue for Disney and lawmakers to renegotiate their deal between now and June 2023. Disney is a major political player in Florida, as well as the rest of the country. In response to the gender instruction law, Disney announced it was suspending political donations in the state and would support organizations that oppose it. DeSantis has railed against Disney after the company's public opposition to the gender instruction law. “If Disney wants to pick a fight, they chose the wrong guy” the governor wrote in a fundraising email.

The measure does allow for the districts to be reestablished, leaving an avenue for Disney and lawmakers to renegotiate their deal between now and June 2023. Disney is a major political player in Florida, as well as the rest of the country. In response to the gender instruction law, Disney announced it was suspending political donations in the state and would support organizations that oppose it. DeSantis has railed against Disney after the company's public opposition to the gender instruction law. “If Disney wants to pick a fight, they chose the wrong guy” the governor wrote in a fundraising email.

The Florida Legislature has passed a bill to dissolve a private government controlled by Disney that provides municipal-like services for its 27,000 acres in the Sunshine State.

The former Honduran president has been extradited to the U.S. to face weapons and drug trafficking charges.

The governor is asking lawmakers to take away Walt Disney World’s ability to self-govern. Since the 1960s, Disney has operated its own government, providing its own services for things like fire, roads and water. If someone would have said in January when they were meeting for legislative session that the governor of the state of Florida would be declaring war on Walt Disney World. READ: DeSantis: Florida lawmakers to consider ending Disney’s self-governing power during special sessionSpecial district lobbyist David Ramba said Disney would lose its ability to build what it needs. READ: Walt Disney World removes all face mask requirementsIf the change passes, experts said part of Disney World’s operations would merge with Orange and Osceola counties by June 1, 2023.

Bowing to Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Legislature on Tuesday advanced two proposals aimed at punishing Walt Disney Co. for criticizing a controversial new law...

The Florida Legislature’s leaders have sent a memo to lawmakers ahead of a special session next week saying legislative staff will not draw new congressional maps.

Campaigns for Congress already are underway for this year's elections, but lingering disagreements over the final shape of new voting districts has left some candidates, and would-be candidates, in limbo. A few states have yet to enact new congressional districts following the 2020 census and some had their maps struck down by courts. A few states have yet to enact new congressional districts following the 2020 census, thanks to legal challenges or party infighting. The new Maryland districts are more compact than the map originally enacted by Democrats, which could have given them a shot at sweeping all eight of the state's districts. STATES WITH UNRESOLVED LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTSAlthough much attention is focused on congressional redistricting, uncertainty also remains for the voting districts used by some state House, Assembly or Senate chambers.

Campaigns for Congress already are underway for this year's elections, but lingering disagreements over the final shape of new voting districts has left some candidates, and would-be candidates, in limbo. A few states have yet to enact new congressional districts following the 2020 census and some had their maps struck down by courts. A few states have yet to enact new congressional districts following the 2020 census, thanks to legal challenges or party infighting. The new Maryland districts are more compact than the map originally enacted by Democrats, which could have given them a shot at sweeping all eight of the state's districts. STATES WITH UNRESOLVED LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTSAlthough much attention is focused on congressional redistricting, uncertainty also remains for the voting districts used by some state House, Assembly or Senate chambers.

Campaigns for Congress are underway for this year’s elections, but lingering disagreements over the final shape of new voting districts have left some candidates — and would-be candidates — in limbo.

A federal judge has stricken key voting restrictions that the Florida Legislature passed last year as unconstitutional.

A federal judge considering a constitutional challenge to a 2021 state elections law ordered attorneys Monday to quickly file briefs about the potential effects of a bill that the Legislature passed this month to make further changes in the elections system.

Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker, in a sharply worded two-page order, said he is drafting a decision on the 2021 law.

Lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis met in the afternoon at the 4th floor of the state Capitol building to close out the Legislature’s work.

For lawmakers, the session also ended without any changes to the laws governing condo inspections. WATCH: Bouncing back: Florida sees economic growth as unemployment numbers improveHowever, the main bill to deal with these issues failed to pass in the final days. Teachers, as well as healthcare workers and first responders will be eligible for part of the state’s $100 million fund to help home purchases. The money for down payment assistance comes out of the affordable housing trust fund, which comes in just over $300 million. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.

Ron DeSantis (R) proposed suspending the state’s gas tax for a few months as he looked over a budget awash with cash from unexpectedly high revenues and American Rescue Plan dollars. “Over a billion dollars in gas tax relief for Florida families,” he marveled. The Florida Legislature and Ron DeSantis could reduce the price of gas by 27.3 cents a gallon right now by suspending state gas taxes. Via @richardcauxier https://t.co/WisSREbx1Z — Tax Policy Center (@TaxPolicyCenter) January 14, 2022Walczak said the gas tax added up to a fraction of the overall price consumers pay. “When you do something like a one-time tax rebate or an earned income tax credit, you’re going to get 100% of the benefit of the state tax policy,” Auxier said.

Students at Edgewater High School took part in a walkout Friday to protest a piece of legislation critics have colloquially dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Middle and high school students across Seminole County walked out Thursday afternoon in protest of a Florida bill that would ban discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in classrooms across the state.

ORLANDO, Fla. — A coalition of progressive organizations is holding a rally to raise awareness against bills being passed by the Florida Legislature that they claim are attacking the rights of women, immigrants, people of color, trans youth and LGBTQ+ communities. The “Rally for Our Collective Rights” is being held at Orlando City Hall at noon on Saturday. Read: I-4 Express: New express lanes officially openSpeakers at Saturday’s rally will include Mayor Buddy Dyer, Commissioner Patty Sheehan and State Rep. Anna Eskamani, as well as representatives from faith-based groups, activists and schools from around Central Florida. Read: Florida GOP ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill advances in HouseThe group expects hundreds of people to attend Saturday’s rally. ©2022 Cox Media Group

The Florida Legislature would have you think it invented parental rights last year when it passed the Parents’ Bill of Rights. The ploy aims bigger: to continue the GOP’s assault and destruction of public education. If it weren’t for the leavening effect of education, and particularly public education, we’d still be in the dark ages. It assumes that parents know best, when they know least. It’s about ending public schools as we know them, as the single-most powerful engine of pluralism and unity in America.

The Florida Legislature would have you think it invented parental rights last year when it passed the Parents’ Bill of Rights. The ploy aims bigger: to continue the GOP’s assault and destruction of public education. If it weren’t for the leavening effect of education, and particularly public education, we’d still be in the dark ages. It assumes that parents know best, when they know least. It’s about ending public schools as we know them, as the single-most powerful engine of pluralism and unity in America.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court denied Gov. Ron DeSantis’ request for an advisory opinion on the Congressional redistricting maps proposed by the Florida Legislature and himself.

It’s Monday, Feb. 7, and mark this as the week the distance between the governor and the GOP-led Legislature widened.

The 2021 Florida School Crossing Guard of the Year is Pat Alfonso, Heather Calloway of Fort Walton was also recognized.

Legislators want to exert more control over thoughts, actions and beliefs of Floridians seeking higher education to improve their lives.

The Florida Senate is expected to consider a map on Wednesday that will redraw Congressional districts and add a new one for the state.

Legislators have been illegally appropriating hundreds of millions of dollars away from the intended purpose of Amendment 1.

“Together, we have made Florida the freest state in these United States,” DeSantis said. The only legislation they are obliged to pass is the state budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. And be thankful that God has blessed us to live and serve in America’s liberty outpost, the free state of Florida,” he said. DeSantis persuaded the Legislature to pass “anti-riot” legislation following the Black Lives matter summer of protest in 2020. “As a state, we cannot be a party to what is effectively a massive human smuggling operation run by the federal government,” DeSantis said.

Have an issue you want to talk to your lawmaker about during the Florida Legislative Session? Here's how.

TALAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida legislative session will begin on Tuesday. The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives will convene for the opening day of the 2022 regular session of the Florida Legislature in the Florida Capitol. Major issues on the agenda for the 2022 session include writing the state’s massive budget and redistricting. Ron DeSantis also wants lawmakers to send $1,000 bonuses to teachers and first responders and put a gas tax holiday in place for drivers. READ: DeSantis proposes $99B ‘Freedom First’ state budget: See what it includesThe schedule for Tuesday begins at 9:30 a.m. with the Senate session, followed by a House session at 10 a.m. and a joint session at 11 a.m.Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates from the 60-day session.

A group that challenged a Florida Power & Light plan to raise base electric rates is taking the fight to the state Supreme Court.

A pair of bills signed this year by Gov. Ron DeSantis, involving vehicle rentals and notaries public, will become law Saturday.

A proposal filed Monday by Sen. Randolph Bracy, D-Ocoee, aims to make Juneteenth Day a paid holiday for all state government employees. The Florida Legislature...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State Senator Randolph Bracy (D-Ocoee) held a press conference Wednesday where he announced plans to significantly expand his Ocoee Scholarship Program. READ: A year-and-a-half later, impact of state’s broken unemployment system lingersBracy announced plans Wednesday to pass legislation that would expand the program to include up to 500 students. 12.01.2021 Press Conference: Today I announced specific efforts on how I plan to expand the historic Ocoee Scholarship Program. In remembrance of all that was lost during the 1920 Ocoee Election Day Massacre, I look forward to continuing to advocate for this priority. Posted by Senator Randolph Bracy on Wednesday, December 1, 2021He said it would make it the largest program in the country that pays some form of compensation to African-Americans.

Florida lawmakers Tuesday started moving forward with an effort to direct money in the fight against toxic algae toward long-term solutions and freshwater bodies.

Florida's four new laws give the state new tools to fight COVID-19 mandates.

Gov. Ron DeSantis told Fox News on Sunday he is hoping the Florida Legislature will pass legislation granting a $5,000 bonus to unvaccinated police officers who relocate to the Sunshine State.

The marches and rallies in cities across Florida and elsewhere were part of a “Day of Action” as tensions rise over the threat to Roe v. Wade.

Senate Reapportionment Chairman Ray Rodrigues said Monday he wants the Florida Legislature to avoid the “shadow process” that occurred in 2012 when lawmakers drew new...

The long-touted vaccine passport ban in Florida takes effect today. That could mean millions of dollars in fines for Orange County. The law passed by...

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — When Renee Ness moved to Florida from Illinois, she wanted to relax and enjoy beachside living, the sun, the sand and the water. READ: Photos show Belle Isle condo building deteriorating“It was just such a slow drip that, I don’t know,” Renee said pointing to the light. But Renee’s building, like some 81 other condos in Volusia County, is more than 40 years old and the signs of age are showing. READ: Florida lawmakers may again consider condo oversight“I don’t think it is just Volusia County, which should act, it is all the municipalities,” Volusia County Council Chairman Jeff Brower said. READ: Surfside condo collapse: Final victim identified; death toll rises to 98“We need to see what can be done, and the first step is seeing what options are out there,” Brower said.

The law would impose a $3,000 limit on contributions to political committees collecting petition signatures.

Enough with the Obama excuse, Florida Legislature.

Gov. Ron DeSantis says it’s “idiotic politics” to accuse the Florida Legislature of approving a gaming deal last month that would give Donald Trump and a Miami Beach hotelier an opportunity to open casinos in our backyard.

It looks like Miami Beach probably has gotten a temporary reprieve from having a casino at the Fontainebleau Resort jammed down the throats of residents by the Legislature. That’s great news.

The bill would add voter ID requirements to mail voting and add limitations to the use of drop boxes.

Florida Legislature Surrounded by lawmakers, Florida Gov.Ron DeSantis speaks at the end of a legislative session, Friday, April 30, 2021, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) (Wilfredo Lee)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — (AP) — Florida Gov. While the law DeSantis signed Monday goes into effect July 1, the Republican governor said he would issue an executive order to more quickly enact some provisions of the new law, including the preemption of existing coronavirus measures enacted by local governments such as mask mandates. “Today, in preempting both local governments AND businesses from keeping their establishments safe, Ron DeSantis decided he cares not about public health, but power,” tweeted St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. “To be clear, cities like St. Pete, Tampa, Orlando, Miami and Miami Beach, saved Florida and the governor’s behind throughout this pandemic. Keeping such measures in place, the Republican governor said during a news conference, undermines confidence in the coronavirus vaccines.

When Rep. Matt Gaetz vacationed in the Bahamas in 2018, he was joined by a doctor who donated to his campaign and a former colleague in the Florida Legislature. The Republican congressman, Dr. Jason Pirozzolo and Halsey Beshears were united in their enjoyment of politics, fancy travel and the company of beautiful women. The Bahamas trip is a central element of a federal investigation surrounding Gaetz that has suddenly endangered his political career.

A year ago, the Florida Legislature closed its annual session several days late and amid fears for the future.

Of all the bills rammed through by the Florida Legislature this session — sometimes revived late at night and then quickly passed by GOP lawmakers — the most egregious remains House Bill 1.

It's the latest Republican-led effort to alter state voting rules following record-breaking turnout during the 2020 election. Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the measure into law.

Today is April 26, which means Florida is officially celebrating what’s called, “Confederate Memorial Day,” a legal state holiday to reflect on the biggest sore...

An appeals court upheld a 2011 state law that threatens tough penalties if city and county officials approve gun-related regulations.

“We miss our grandchildren terribly and grieve their loss of our support and visitation and affection.”Under Florida law, grandparents are allowed to petition courts for visitation with grandchildren under very narrow circumstances. Ad“The Family Law section has been faced with this issue for what feels like decades,” West Palm Beach attorney Abigail Beebe, representing The Florida Bar’s Family Law Section, told the Senate committee. But the Florida Supreme Court struck down a state law that said courts should use a similar standard when considering grandparents’ petitions for visitation. A potential state law expanding grandparents’ rights might be upheld as constitutional if it requires a court to consider a detriment to the child, such as abuse, abandonment or neglect, she said. Sen. Darryl Rouson, who also worked on a 2015 law dealing with grandparents’ rights, said grandparents are a crucial part of children’s lives.

Among the bills before lawmakers in the next week is a measure unionists consider a union buster. The Legislature will also move to close a loophole that exempts some sexual offenders from having to register with authorities. The bill requires government employers to confirm that employees consent to have union dues taken out of their paychecks. AdThe bill’s author says some employees are having dues deducted without ever having given permission. But a court had ruled that sexual offenders don’t have to register if they hadn’t finished paying off any restitution they might owe.

The state Senate and House gaveled into session with members donning face masks on the floors of their respected chambers. Ron DeSantis said he would looking forward to working with lawmakers on the key issues facing their state. AdAlthough it was the first day of the session, lawmakers have been traveling to Tallahassee for weeks to begin committee hearings on the measures that could eventually make to the governor’s desk. While Republican lawmakers have signaled their support for the governor's initiatives, they will have their own priorities. “By prioritizing Big Tech companies, social media — that's not the priorities of the people of the state of the Florida.

Hadleigh Tweedall of Tennessee lost her daughter at 18 and a half weeks due to fetal anomalies.A similar law forced her to go out of state to get an abortion after her doctors warned her of the risks of carrying to term. Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Doral, and Rep Tommy Gregory, R-Sarasota, said they have an obligation to the unborn. "Most women don't get their high-risk ultrasound until 20-23 weeks," Tweedall observed. "You know, you have your first ones to recognize the heartbeat and your next ultrasound with your doctor is around 20-23 weeks. "The various bills will be heard in committee during committee weeks, then full debate is expected during the legislative session, which begins in March.

ORLANDO, Fla. – A specialty license plate for Edward Waters College in Jacksonville is the first to be discontinued under a new law passed by the Florida Legislature last year. The law requires the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to discontinue the specialty plate with the fewest number in circulation after Jan. 1 of each year. Previously, most university plates including Edward Waters had been exempt from any sort of minimum tag sales, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Other schools with fewer registrations than Edward Waters that opted into the new template option include Lynn University, Florida Hospital College, St. Thomas University, Southeastern University, Florida College, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Keiser University, Ringling College of Art and Design, Eckerd College, Florida Southern and St. Leo University. The new law placed a maximum of 150 specialty plates allowed in the state, and opened pre-registration for 33 more potential specialty tags.

Brad Little says people 65 and over will be able to get the coronavirus vaccine starting Feb. 1. Overall, Illinois has reported more than 1 million cases and 17,743 deaths. Ontario reported 2,903 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, including eight new cases of a variant from the United Kingdom. ___MADRID — Spain is reporting 25,438 coronavirus cases and more than 400 deaths for the second day in a row. Italy added 14,242 coronavirus infections on Tuesday, increasing the tally to 2.3 million cases.

The request came a year after a gunman killed 17 students and faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. While the interim report Thursday addressed several issues, it focused most heavily on what the grand jury saw as problems in the mental-health system. The accused Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz, a former Marjory Stoneman Douglas student, had received treatment for mental-health issues — leading to scrutiny of the mental-health system. “It should be apparent to any reader of this report that this grand jury has only scratched the surface of the myriad difficulties involved in comprehensively addressing the sad state of mental health care services in the state of Florida,” the report said. “Even among states that do not collect income taxes, Florida is dead last,” the report said.

The request came a year after a gunman killed 17 students and faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. While the interim report Thursday addressed several issues, it focused most heavily on what the grand jury saw as problems in the mental-health system. The accused Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz, a former Marjory Stoneman Douglas student, had received treatment for mental-health issues — leading to scrutiny of the mental-health system. “It should be apparent to any reader of this report that this grand jury has only scratched the surface of the myriad difficulties involved in comprehensively addressing the sad state of mental health care services in the state of Florida,” the report said. “Because each agency cannot see the ‘big picture’ of a person's complete mental health history, there is no real way to develop or carry out any kind of a comprehensive plan for treatment and follow-up services.”

But MedNexus Palm Coast is the product of Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland, who in Rep. Paul Renner’s words “played a critical role along with the Palm Coast City Council” in landing the satellite for UNF. It was not a coincidence that the occasion was marked at Palm Coast City Hall, Holland’s ground, in recognition by state, university and college leaders of the role she played. If the timing was hard to miss, there was nothing contrived about what Palm Coast is getting. About three years ago we saw the shortages and the needs and we identified Palm Coast as a growth area as well as our Deltona campus. Palm Coast government has set aside $1.5 million as its contribution for MedNexus’s start-up costs.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. It's a tax-free weekend for Floridians searching for back-to-school bargains. But this year, in a pandemic, the priority may be on technology, as many Florida students will be returning to class via the internet. There may be less of a rush to buy school uniforms, with many students at many school districts beginning the year with remote learning. It exempts state and local sales taxes on all school supplies that costs $15 and under, as well as for clothing costing $60 or less. It also exempts taxes on the first $1,000 on computers and accessories.

During the sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. To help residents get ready for a storm, the 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. HURRICANE SEASON NAMES COPY: 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Here are the namesThe sales tax holiday begins May 29 and extends through June 4. During the sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. Have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family a minimum of three days.

During the sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. To help residents get ready for a storm, the 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. HURRICANE SEASON NAMES COPY: 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Here are the namesThe sales tax holiday begins May 29 and extends through June 4. During the sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. Have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family a minimum of three days.

During the sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. To help residents get ready for a storm, the 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. HURRICANE SEASON NAMES COPY: 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Here are the namesThe sales tax holiday begins May 29 and extends through June 4. During the sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. Have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family a minimum of three days.

With the states August primary and the November presidential election looming, the judge said there was some urgency to his ruling. Hinkles preliminary injunction did not preclude Florida from revoking voting rights from felons who have the means to repay outstanding financial obligations but who refuse. But he likened the states financial requirement to a poll tax on felons who are too poor to fully settle up. Many thousands more could also be ineligible, according to the study, which did not account for felons convicted outside Florida or in federal courts. Hinkle questioned state officials on their ability to promptly review cases.

Florida lawmakers approved a $93.2 billion budget last week that called for more than 14% increases to prison education in what some senators called the best deal for state inmates in decades. For years, the prison system has attempted to hire more teachers to improve educational programming. The Wasted Minds series showed how that decision crippled educational opportunities for inmates in Florida by stripping away tens of millions of potential dollars. With the trust fund now reinstated, wardens will have an additional $2.5 million to spend on inmate programming and activities. Other proposals that would have enhanced educational opportunities, like a bill to reduce the minimum amount of time they must serve, were stymied.

Florida lawmakers approved a $93.2 billion budget last week that called for more than 14% increases to prison education in what some senators called the best deal for state inmates in decades. For years, the prison system has attempted to hire more teachers to improve educational programming. The Wasted Minds series showed how that decision crippled educational opportunities for inmates in Florida by stripping away tens of millions of potential dollars. With the trust fund now reinstated, wardens will have an additional $2.5 million to spend on inmate programming and activities. Other proposals that would have enhanced educational opportunities, like a bill to reduce the minimum amount of time they must serve, were stymied.

Florida lawmakers approved a $93.2 billion budget last week that called for more than 14% increases to prison education in what some senators called the best deal for state inmates in decades. For years, the prison system has attempted to hire more teachers to improve educational programming. The Wasted Minds series showed how that decision crippled educational opportunities for inmates in Florida by stripping away tens of millions of potential dollars. With the trust fund now reinstated, wardens will have an additional $2.5 million to spend on inmate programming and activities. Other proposals that would have enhanced educational opportunities, like a bill to reduce the minimum amount of time they must serve, were stymied.